Container insert for portable tiering rack

ABSTRACT

A container insert is provided for a portable tiering pallet rack having a base frame and a plurality of vertical corner posts. The insert comprises side panels of wire mesh or the like hinged together and defining a collapsible polygonal structure which is confined between the corner posts and the base frame. Abutment brackets which engage the inner faces of the corner posts to lock the insert in place also permit it to be folded flat for transport.

United States Patent Ellison 1 Sept. 5, 1972 [54] CONTAINER INSERT FOR PORTABLE 3,137,250 6/1964 Hutchinson ..220/4 R X TIERING RACK FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [72] Inventor: Herbert E. Ellison, Michigan City,

Ind. 1,049,784 l/l959 Germany ..217/43 A [73] Assignee: The Paltier Corporation, Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr.

Michigan City, lnd. Assistant Examiner-Michael Y. Mar [22] Filed May 7 1971 Attorney-Wolfe, Hubbard, Leydig, Voit & Osann,

Ltd. [2]] Appl. No.: 141,108 [57] ABSTRACT [52] U8. Cl ..220/7, 217/43 A, 220/19, A in r in rt is provided for a portable tiering 221/5 pallet rack having a base frame and a plurality of ver- [51 m. (:l. ..B65d 7/26 tical comer p The insert comprises Side Panels of [58] Field 0 SearChWZZO/LS, 4 R, 7 19; 217/43 wire mesh or the like hinged together and defining a 221/5 collapsible polygonal structure which is confined between the corner posts and the base frame. Abutment brackets which engage the inner faces of the [56] References Cited comer posts to lock the insert in place also permit it UNITED STATES PATENTS to be folded flat for transport.

2,579,685 12/1951 Loose ..217/43 A UX 5 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures Z/ Z! Z! g l &

Patented Sept. 5, 1972 3,688,937

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 5, 1972 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 CONTAINER INSERT FOR PORTABLE TIERING RACK DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to pallet storage systems and, more particularly, to a container insert for facilitating the storage of articles on a portable tiering pallet rack.

In modern warehousing and materials handling operations, portable tiering racks are widely used. Their ease of assembly and disassembly, together with their ability to be stacked or tiered in a great variety of configurations, has made such racks virtually indispensable.

With the foregoing in mind, one object of the present invention is to increase further the versatility of a portable tiering pallet rack, while still maintaining its ease of assembly, stacking, and disassembly, by providing a collapsible container insert with side panels for retaining articles thereon.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible container insert for a pallet rack of the character set forth above and which may be readily expanded and installed thereon between the corner posts and the base frame of the rack, yet readily removed and folded flat for transport or storage.

A further object of the invention is to provide a container insert of the above type having a plurality of connected side panels, one of which may be utilized as a door or gate to afford access to the articles stored on the pallet rack.

Still another object is to provide a removable container insert as set forth above of simple, rugged, inexpensive construction and adapted to take full advantage of the inherent structural strength of the rack.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of collapsible container insert examplifying the present invention, together with an illustrative portable tiering pallet rack on which the insert is adapted to be used.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container insert of FIG. I installed in position on the illustrative tiering pallet rack.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view detailing a portion of the container insert in engagement with a vertical comer post of the rack.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view through one of the container insert hinge members, taken in the plane of the line 4-4 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the right hand end portion of the container insert and rack of FIG. 2, illustrating the drop gate in one side panel.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the latching means for the side panel drop gate.

FIG. 7 is a further enlarged, fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken in the plane of the line 7-7 in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the container insert in collapsed flat-folded condition and the corner posts disassembled from the pallet rack.

while the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, a certain illustrative embodiment has been shown in the drawings and will be described below in considerable detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed but, on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Referring more specifically to FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention is there exemplified in a collapsible container insert 10 comprising two opposed pairs of side panels 11, 12 and 14, 15. When erected, the insert 10 is adapted to be dropped into position upon a portable pallet tiering rack 16 and retained in place by engagement with the existing structure of the rack.

The pallet rack 16 (FIGS. 2 and 5) happens in this instance to be a well-known type of tiering rack. It comprises a base frame 18, a floor panel 19, and depending sockets 20 with feet 21 of hollow pyramidal form at their lower ends, such parts together defining a pallet. Telescopically mounted in the sockets 20 are a plurality of vertical comer posts 22 having pyramidal fittings 24 at their upper ends. The parts 22 comprise a tiering frame adapted to support one or more pallet base frame units 18 in stacked or tiered relation above it, the post fittings 24 engaging the feet 21 of the supported unit. Stacking or tiering of the pallet'frame units 18 may be accomplished in a well-known manner as by means of a fork lift truck.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the container insert 10 is formed with its side panels ll, l2, l4 and 15 connected by dual function abutment brackets 25. Each such bracket 25, (FIGS. 1, 3 and 4) is of generally L-shaped configuration, comprising two flanges 26 substantially perpendicular to each other. The flanges are bifurcated and terminate at their opposite ends in reversely bent portions defining alined pairs of hinge eyes 28. Each pair of hinge eyes is adapted to engage the vertical bar 29 defining one end of a side panel. The vertical dimension of the bracket 25 is such that the eyes 28 will fit comfortably between a pair of adjacent horizontal bars 30' in a side panel (FIG. 3).

With at least a pair of the abutment brackets 25 connecting each pair of adjacent ends of the side panels, the container insert 10 may be erected into rectilinear form as illustrated in FIG. 1. The entire insert may then be quickly drop fitted into position on the pallet rack 16, as shown in FIG. 2, and retained in place without conventional mechanical fasteners by the existing structure of the rack. If desired, this operation may be facilitated by temporary removal and replacement of one or two of the vertical corner posts 22. When so positioned, the weight of the insert 10 is supported by the base frame 18, the bottom bars of the side panels resting on the peripheral structure thereof. At the same time, the flanges 26 of the brackets 25 abuttingly engage the two inner faces of the vertical corner posts 22, restraining the side panels against lateral movement with respect to the posts. The insert 10 is thus confined between the pallet base frame 18 and the corner posts 22 in a very positive manner, permitting the resulting container to be filled with articles without danger of becoming disengaged.

By reason of the foregoing construction, the container insert 10 may not only be quickly and easily dropped into position on the pallet rack, but may also be removed therefrom with equal speed and facility. When removed, the insert may readily be folded flat for shipment or storage, as illustrated in FIG. 8. Since the insert 10 carries no bearing stresses when in use, these being borne by the pallet rack structure, deformation from bearing stresses is avoided and this facilitates assembly and disassembly of the unit.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, access to the interior of the assembled container insert 10 may be had without necessity for removing one or more complete side panels. This is accomplished in the present instance by forming the side panel with a drop gate 31, illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5. The drop gate 31 is actually a portion of the panel 15, being secured to the latter by means of a pair of horizontal hinge rings 32. The main portion of the side panel 15 is in this instance secured to the adjacent side panels l1, 12 by means of two pairs of the abutment brackets 25. The drop gate 31 is secured in closedposition as by means of a pair of releasable latch assemblies 34, illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7.

Referring more specifically to the latch assemblies 34 (FIGS. 6 and 7), it will be noted that each comprises an abutment bracket 35 somewhat similar to the bracket 25 but not as wide. The bracket 35 is formed with bifurcated flanges 36, 38 disposed in substantially perpendicular relation with each other. The flange 36 abuts against the inner face of the corner post and its alined hinge eyes 39 straddle horizontal bar 30 near the top of the side panel, at the same time engaging the vertical bar 29 defining the end of the side panel. The other flange 38 of the bracket 35 is spaced outwardly from the other inner face of the corner post to receive the vertical bar 29a of the drop gate therebetween. A generally slidable L-shaped latch 40 guided on an adjacent vertical bar 29b of the drop gate has a finger 41 adapted to engage the eyes 42 of the bracket 35, thus locking the horizontal bar 30a of the drop gate 31 in the slot between the eyes 42 and retaining the gate in vertical position. When the latch 40 and its finger 41 of each latch assembly are lifted clear of the eyes 42, the drop gate 31 may be rotated downwardly upon its hinges 32, as illustrated in FIG. 5, to provide access to the interior of the container. While it is possible to utilize only a single latch assembly 34 on the drop gate, it will be desirable in most instances to utilize a pair of them as shown in FIG. 5.

In the present instance, the flange 38 of the bracket 35 is offset from and substantially parallel to the inner face of the corner post, as shown in FIG. 7, to provide clearance for the vertical bar 29a of the drop gate. Such clearance may alternately be provided by making the flange 38 diverge outwardly from the flange 36 at an angle somewhat greater than 90. In such event, the

flange 38 would not be parallel to the face of the corner post.

What is claimed is:

l. A container insert for a portable tiering pallet rack having a base frame and a plurality of vertical corner posts, said insert comprising, in combination:

a. a plurality of side panels adapted to fit respectively between opposed inner faces of the corner posts,

b. a plurality of abutment brackets hingedly conrsassg sees: 3 stra ts? was. 2.: polygonal structure,

c. each said abutment bracket having a pair of flanges substantially perpendicular to each other and adapted to engage adjacent inner faces of a comer post so as to confine said container insert between the corner posts and the base frame of the pallet rack.

2. A container insert as set forth in claim 1 wherein the flanges of said abutment brackets are each of a length not exceeding the width of the inner faces of the vertical comer posts, whereby said side panels are confined within the outer perimeter of the pallet rack.

3. A container insert as set forth in claim 2, wherein said side panels are formed of wire mesh and the flanges of said abutment brackets terminate in alined hinge eyes adapted to engage the vertical wire ends of said side panels between adjacent pairs of horizontal wires.

4. A container insert as set forth in claim 3, wherein:

a. one said side panel is subdivided into a fixed portion and a drop gate pivotally attached to said fixed portion,

b. at least one latching assembly is interposed between said drop gate and an adjacent one of said side panels, and

c. said latching assembly includes an abutment bracket having at one end a pair of eyes connected to said adjacent side panel and at its other end a pair of eyes adapted to receive a latch finger slidably mounted on said drop gate.

5. A container insert as set forth in claim 4, wherein:

a. one said pair of eyes of said abutment bracket straddle a horizontal wire bar of said adjacent side panel while engaging the vertical wire bar at the end of said panel,

b. the other said pair of eyes straddle a corresponding horizontal wire bar in said drop gate while disposed for engagement by said slidable latch finger, and

c. said other pair of eyes of said abutment bracket being formed on a flange thereof spaced from the adjacent inner face of said vertical comer post to receive the vertical wire bar at the end of said drop gate. 

1. A container insert for a portable tiering pallet rack having a base frame and a plurality of vertical corner posts, said insert comprising, in combination: a. a plurality of side panels adapted to fit respectively between opposed inner faces of the corner posts, b. a plurality of abutment brackets hingedly connected to adjacent ends of said side panels and forming therewith a collapsible bottomless polygonal structure, c. each said abutment bracket having a pair of flanges substantially perpendicular to each other and adapted to engage adjacent inner faces of a corner post so as to confine said container insert between the corner posts and the base frame of the pallet rack.
 2. A container insert as set forth in claim 1 wherein the flanges of said abutment brackets are each of a length not exceeding the width of the inner faces of the vertical corner posts, whereby said side panels are confined within the outer perimeter of the pallet rack.
 3. A container insert as set forth in claim 2, wherein said side panels are formed of wire mesh and the flanges of said abutment brackets terminate in alined hinge eyes adapted to engage the vertical wire ends of said side panels between adjacent pairs of horizontal wires.
 4. A container insert as set forth in claim 3, wherein: a. one said side panel is subdivided into a fixed portion and a drop gate pivotally attached to saId fixed portion, b. at least one latching assembly is interposed between said drop gate and an adjacent one of said side panels, and c. said latching assembly includes an abutment bracket having at one end a pair of eyes connected to said adjacent side panel and at its other end a pair of eyes adapted to receive a latch finger slidably mounted on said drop gate.
 5. A container insert as set forth in claim 4, wherein: a. one said pair of eyes of said abutment bracket straddle a horizontal wire bar of said adjacent side panel while engaging the vertical wire bar at the end of said panel, b. the other said pair of eyes straddle a corresponding horizontal wire bar in said drop gate while disposed for engagement by said slidable latch finger, and c. said other pair of eyes of said abutment bracket being formed on a flange thereof spaced from the adjacent inner face of said vertical corner post to receive the vertical wire bar at the end of said drop gate. 